Toeankoe Moehamad Dawot (Pretendent-Sultan, ex-Pretendent-Sultan) was a Pretender Sultan of Aceh mentioned in Jongejan’s Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu in connection with Aceh. Youth chosen as Sultan after fall of the Dalem (when previous Sultan fled and soon died); came under guardianship (voogdij) of one of the most hostile vorstelijken, Toeankoe Hasjim.
Role
Pretender Sultan of Aceh
Account from Jongejans
Youth chosen as Sultan after fall of the Dalem (when previous Sultan fled and soon died); came under guardianship (voogdij) of one of the most hostile vorstelijken, Toeankoe Hasjim. Was a child at the time, lacked capacity and ambition to lead as he aged. Sought pleasure in worldly and frivolous amusements; misused his ninefold seal (tjab thikoereueng) and purely traditional authority to extract money for extravagances and petty wars against rebellious chiefs. In 1898 sought contact with the Dutch government; told to come to Koetaradja to hear conditions for accepted submission; knew restoration of Sultanate was impossible and did not appear. Instead convened meeting with Panglima Polém and other chiefs, deciding on joint action; Teukoe Oemar joined. After Batèë Ilië (February 1901) withdrew to Gajo-landen; harassed by flying marechaussée columns; fled to Pameuë; then to Pidië (ostensibly to marry off his son Toeankoe Ibrahim). On this trip his wife Teungkoe Poetrèë was captured by Christoffel. 24 December 1902: his favorite Potjoet di Tjot Moerong and his son captured at Lammeulo. Van Heutsz then threatened to intern son and wives at Koetaradja or banish them from Aceh. He submitted. 20 January 1903: he and son Toeankoe Ibrahim received by the Governor at Koetaradja (having been fetched and escorted to Sigli by chiefs of Groot-Atjeh, then travelling by warship). In 1907 exiled to Batavia because he was found to be supporting resistance leaders behind the scenes; later moved to Amboina under Governor Van Daalen. Lives there as an old man. Footnote: died in Batavia on 6 April of the year of the book’s writing (j.l. = jaar liep / ‘last year’), giving the Sultanate-restoration question a wholly different aspect.
Significance
Toeankoe Moehamad Dawot (Pretendent-Sultan, ex-Pretendent-Sultan) appears in Jongejan’s account as one of the figures shaping the history of Aceh during the period covered by the book.
See Also
Source
Land en Volk van Atjeh Vroeger en Nu, by J. Jongejans, Oud-Resident van het Gewest Atjeh en Onderhoorigheden, with a foreword by Dr. H. Colijn (Baarn: Hollandia Drukkerij N.V., c. 1938), pp. 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 403, 404.